Knockdown box.



No. 653,907. Patented 'luly I7, |900.

A DUDEN KNUCKDUWN BOX.

(Application led Mm'. 23, 1900.\

2 Sheets-Sheet |l (No Model.)

A //////////////////////////////////////////////////l//A y A WITNESSES:

A TT ORNE Y.

No. 653,907. Patented July I7, |900.

A num-:N

KNUGKDOWN BOX.

(Application led Mar. 23, 19.00.!

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 y (Nu Modl.)

W'ITNESSES.-

AUO'RNEY.

al. wnsuma NTTED STATES PATENT- OFFICE.

AUGUST DUDEN, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

KNOCKDOWN BOX.

SFECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 53,907, dated July 17, 1900. Application filed March 23, 1900. Serial No. 9,834. (No model.)

To all wiz/0in t nu@ concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUST DUDEN, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knockdown Boxes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to the class of boxes which is adapted to be made in parts and shipped as knockdown boxes and then set up by the user thereof.

One object of the invention is to provide a knockdown box the parts of which may be constructed economically by the use of machinery and which may be quickly set up and nished also by the aid of machinery.

Another object is to provide a strong box of light weight in order to save in freight charges both in shipping to and from the customer.

A further object is to provide a box construction which is adapted to be employed in utilizing not only wood in either single or double thickness, but strawboard and the like material in the composition thereof.

The above objects are fully attained in my invention,which is also adapted tobe knocked down after havingbeen used and again reshipped in Aparts in compact forrn and used over again indenitely.

The invention consists in the novel parts and combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a view in perspective of the complete box as preferably constructed Fig. 2, a fragmentary detail view of a modified form of corner construction; Fig. 3, a view in elevation of one of the end parts, showing` the plan of that part which is preferably the interior face; Fig. 4, a view in elevation of one of the side parts, showing the plan of that part which is preferably the interior face; Fig. 5, a transverse vertical sectional view taken approximately at the longitudinal center of the box;

Fig. 6, a fragmentary detail View of a modied form of corner construction; Fig. 7,a

perspective view of the sides and ends con- In the drawings the longer sides or walls of the box are designated as the sides and the shorter sides or walls are designated as the ends The under side is 'designated as the bottom and the upper side as the C topi?) l Similar letters and numerals of reference throughout the several iigures designate simi lar parts.

In construction the walls are preferably composed of veneers, which, as usual, are laid together with the grain of the two layers crossing each other, but are also so laid for other certain reasons, which will be hereinafter specified. When composed of homoge neous material, the element of grain is eliminated.

Vhile the inner and outer faces of the main parts or walls may be transposed, it is deemed of advantage to conform to the plan herein specified.

The sides A A' and O C are alike, the ends- B B and D D are alike, and the bottom E E and the top F F are alike in details of construction.

Each side is composed of two parts, as A and A', preferably of sheets of veneering, each of which may be finished complete by suitable machinery as the sheet is passing from the roll from which itl is shaved. The part A is cut rectangular to a suitable width and length and so that the opposite edges h h shall extend considerably beyond the bottom E and the top F when complete, and each end of the part is cut out from the extremity thereof, as on lines which deiine the top and bottom edges 6 6, parallel with the grain of the Wood to a suitable distance and then across the grain, leaving the reduced ends diametricall y equal in width to the width of the companion part A' and determiningtogether the depth of the clear space'in the box, the portions h h projecting beyond the IOO edges of the part A and the narrower end parts of the piece of which they are parts. The part A is rectangular and somewhat longer than the part A, and near each end thereof a slot a is cut transversely therethrough, so as to extend longitudinally with the grain of the wood, so as to be accomplished by means of rolling dies. The distance between the two slots is preferably equal to the extreme length, as indicated at 5 5 of the part A; The two parts A and A' may be either glued together or secured by means of either staples or nails in machines suitably designed for rapid work.

Each end comprises two parts, as B and B', cut and nished in a manner similar to the process by which the sides are formed. Each part is rectangular at rst and are then reduced in width one way at opposite sides. The part B, measured with the grain, is equal in diameter to the inside width of the box and is of greater width than the height of the box, so that the edges f f extend above and below the bottom and the top of the box and longitudinally with the grain, While the edges are cut away at the ends, as at 4, leaving the ends reduced in width, measured across the grain, so as to equal the height of the boxbody and also the height of the companion part B', measured with the grain. The part B is of such diameter, measured across the grain, that the edges Z1 b extend beyond the companion part, except at the ends of the edges, which are cut away, as at 3, leaving those parts equal in dimensions, measured across the grain, to the diameter of the companion part, measured with the grain. rPhe two parts may be secured together also in any suitable manner.

Each bottom or top comprisestwo parts, as E E, rectangular in form,and the partE has a greater width measured across the grain than the part E measured with the grain, as between the edges 7 '7. The part E has a greater length measured across its grain than the part E measured with the grain, as between the edges 2 2. Slots CZ cl are cut transversely through the part E, longitudinally with the grain, near the two opposite ends thereof, the space between the slots being equal to the length of the companion part E, taken between the edges 2 2. The part E is also provided with slots e e, cut transversely therethrough near two opposite edges thereof and extending with the grain, the distance apart being equal to the distance between the edges 7 7 of the companion part E. These two parts may be secured together in any suitable manner.

In some cases it may be desirable to eilt notches in the upper and lower edges of the outer parts of the sides or ends, as shown in Fig. S, forming projectionst' of the part somewhat separated, in which case it is preferable to cut separate slots e of suitable length.

The completed sides, ends, bottoms, and tops may be crated and .shipped to the con- L 2 653,so7

sumer, by whom they may be set up and secured together, completing the boxes; but usually it may be more advantageous and economical to attach the binding and reinforcing strips at the factory at which the parts are made.

In the stronger boxes stri ps G are laid upon the outer sides of the parts E and E longitudinally between the slots e e and the adjacent edges and secured thereto. Similar strips n are also secured to the saine parts parallel to the strips G and at the opposite sides of the slots. In the lighter or smaller boxes either the strips G, as indicated in Fig. 2, or the strips n, as indicated in Fig. 6, may be dis pensed with. Strips I are laid on and secured to the ends of the parts A C', longitudinally with the grain thereof, between the slots ci and the adjacent edge of the part, and strips j are secured to the outside of the parts A and O, longitudinally with the grain, close to the edges, as 6 6, of the narrower portions thereof; but these may be dispensed with when the strips G are made use of. Strips 7a are secured close to the ends of the parts A and C, extending transversely with the grain thereof; but either these or the strips I may be dispensed with, depending upon the plans adopted. Strips II are secured to the ends of the parts E and F longitudinally with the grain thereof and between the slot-s d d and the adjacent edges of the part, and other strips pp are attached to the parts E and F, extending across the ends 2 2, adjacent to the slots d d; but either the strips p p or the strips H may be dispensed with. The ends' may be provided with strips Z Z, attached to the parts B and D, close to the edges 4 of the narrower portions thereof, and strips m, close to the other twoedges, at right angles to the strips Z l; but these may not be desired when the strips H are used.

In assembling the parts the sides are set up and are connected with the ends, as shown in Fig. '7, the slots a a receiving the projecting portions b b of the ends. The bottom is then applied, the slots d CZ receiving the 'pro-r jecting portions ff of the ends and the slots e e receiving the projecting portions h h of the sides. All the projecting portions extend a suitable distance through the slots. The portions h h and f f are then suitably secured to the strips, which will be found extending at the sides thereof. After filling the box the top may be applied and secured in the same manner as the bottom.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A box including a bottom and a top or walls each having a slot therethroughnear each edge thereof,sides and ends or walls each having portions thereof extending through the slots in the bottom and having also portions extending through the slots in the top, and strips secured tov the bottom and strips secured to the top at the sides of the slots.

IIO

2. A box including sides or walls each having slots therethrough at two edges thereof, ends or walls each having portions thereof extending through the slots, strips secured to the sides and also to the ends adjacent to the slots, a bottom, and a top.

3. Abox composed of two counterpart sides provided each with a slot therethrough near each of two opposite edges thereof, two counterpart ends each having portions at two opposite edges thereof cut away and having the remaining edge portions extending through the slots in the sides, a bottom, and a top.

l. A box composed of two counterpart sides having each a slot therethrough near each of two opposite edges thereof and having projecting portions at the remaining two edges thereof, two counterpart ends each having portions extending through the slots in the sides and having also portions extending from two remaining edges thereof, a bottom having slots therethrough receiving portions of the sides and ends, a top having slots therethrough receiving other portions of the sides and ends, and strips attached at the sides of the slots.

A box composed of a bottom and a top identical in plan having each a slot near each edge thereof, two sides identical in plan having each a slot therethrough at two opposite edges thereof, two ends identical in plan each having portions at the edges thereof cutaway and the remaining portions of such edges extending through the slots in the bottom and top and sides, portions of said sides also extending through slots in the bottom and in the top, and strips secured at the sides of such slots.

6. A box comprising two counterpart sides each of which is composed of a part having a slot therethrough at two opposite ends thereof, and a part extending from one to the other of the slots and having portions greater in width than the other part, said parts being secured together; two counterpart ends having portions extending through such slots; a blottom, a top, and strips at the sides of such s ots.

7. A box comprising two counterpart sides each of which is composed of a rectangular part having slots therein, and a part having portions greater in width than the rectangular part, said parts being secured together; two counterpart ends having portions extending through such slots; a bottom and a top each composed of a rectangular part havinga slot therethrough near each of two ends thereof, and a rectangular part having slots therethrough extending along two edges of said other part, said two parts being secured together, and portions of said sides and said ends extending through said slots g and strips secured at the sides of said slots to the contiguous portions of said parts.

8. A box comprising two counterpart sides each of which is composed of a rectangular part, and a part having portions of two edges the top;

out away and leaving portions thereof extending considerably over the edges of the companion part, said two parts being secured together; two ends; a bottom and a top each of which is composed of two rectangular parts having each two slots therethrough, said extending portions of saidv sides and portions of the ends extending through said slots; and strips situate at the sides of said slots and secured to the contiguous parts.

9. In a knockdown box, the combination of the bottom and the -top, each composed of the two rectangular parts having each the slot cut therethrough at two opposite edges thereof and secured together so that there shall be a slot at each of the four edges of said bottom and said top; the sides composed each of the two parts, one of which is rectangular and having the slot therethrough at each end thereof, and the other of which is secured to the companion part and extends from one to the other of said slots and transversely beyond the edges of said companion part and through slots in said bott-om and said top; the ends each composed of two parts secured together aud having the portions extending through said slots; and the strips secured adjacent to said slots, substantially as set forth.

10. In a knockdown box, the combination of the sides, each comprising a part having the slot therethrough and a part abutting at one side of said slot 3 the ends each comprising a part having the portion extending through said slot and a part abutting against said part having the slot therethrough; the bottom; and the strip situate adjacent to said slot and secured to the contiguous parts, substantially as set forth.

ll. In a knockdown box, the combinationV of the bottom and the top, each composed of two rectangular parts, each having slots therethrough situate at edges of the companion part; the sides and the ends, each having the main portions of the edges thereof extending through said slots, and the strip situate adjacent said slots and secured to the contiguous parts, substantially as set forth.

l2. In a knockdown box, the combination of the inner parts of the sides having the slots through the ends thereof, the inner parts of the ends having the portions extending through said slots, the top and the bottom having the slots therethrough, the outer parts of the sides having the portions extending through said slots in said bottom and said top, the outer parts of the ends having the portions thereof extending through said slots in said bottom and said top, and the strips situate at the sides of said slots, substantially as set forth.

13. In a knockdown box, the combination of the bottom and the top, each constructed as described of two parts, one part of which is rectangular and having two slots therethrough, and the other part of which is also rectangular and extending between said two slots of the companion part and having two IOO IIO

VIIIZO slots uncovered by the companion part, said two parts being secured together with the grains crossing, and the slots being eut 1ongitudinally with the grain; the sides and the ends adapted to extend through slots; and the strips at the sides of said slots, substantially as set forth.

14. In a knockdown box, the combination of the bottom and the top having the slots therethrough; the sides, each constructed as described of two parts, one part of which is rectangular and having the slots therethrough, and the other part of which has portions thereof extending through the slots in the bottom and top, said two parts being secured together with the grain crossing; and the ends having portions thereof extending through said slots in said sides and also portions extending through said sIots in said bottom and said top; and the strips, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AUGUST DUDEN.

Witnesses:

WM. H. PAYNE, E. T. SILvIUs. 

